“Man, what a beautiful day to be alive”

Today is the first Sunday after Christmas, and we Christians celebrate the “Feast of the Holy Family.” As I went for my walk this morning, in a very beautiful park here in, Connecticut; there was peace. The stream was roaring as the melting snow more than doubled its normal volume, gushing into the lake; I said, “Man, what a beautiful day to be alive.” Hundreds of geese were flying above the lake, seemingly almost in a circle, very high and very load; I said, “Man, what a beautiful day to be alive.” The blue jays were racing by noisy as ever, stopping in the trees and making their presence known; again, “Man, what a beautiful day to be alive.”
The Christmas hustle is now behind us, and we are getting ready to start a new year. With all the negative things we find ourselves surrounded with today, maybe we should all try to take a deep breathe of fresh air, count our blessings, and share our love with family, friends, and those we encounter on a daily basis. This is what Christmas is really all about, and we should live our lives like every day is Christmas.
Yes, even among our noisy and busy surroundings we can find true peace. No matter how difficult life can sometimes be, I pray that we will always be able to say, “Man, what a beautiful day to be alive!” May the peace of the “Holy Family” be with us all today and every day of the year. Happy New Year and God bless us all, today and always.

Have You Seen The Shepherd
Have you seen - the Shepherd
He has lost one of his sheep
Have you seen - the Shepherd
Is he out here searching for me
I drifted away - far from him
Thought I could find my own way
I drifted away - far from him
Now it seems I have lost my way
Have you seen - the Shepherd
He has lost one of his sheep
Have you seen - the Shepherd
Is he out here searching for me
Yes I've seen - the Shepherd
He knows you have lost your way
Yes I've seen - the Shepherd
He has been with you all the way
Have you seen - the Shepherd
He has lost one of his sheep
Yes I've seen - the Shepherd
As the lamb along the Calvary way
Yes I've seen - the Shepherd
As the lamb for the sheep - astray
Written By: Anthony Raymond
　

Reflection / Luke 3:10-18
"What can we do?" "Give to the one with none, if you have two."
"What can we do?" "Take no more than that which is appointed you;
Feed your fellow man, Take not from another with your mighty hand,
Be content with your salary, never point to another person wrongfully."
"Remember, doing this for your brothers and sisters, you do it for me."
People began to wonder in hearts concerning one named John,
Perhaps he is the one that we have waited for so long.
John said, "I baptize you with water, He who comes is mightier than I,
His sandals I am unworthy to loosen, He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire."
"What can we do?" Preach the good news to all those who hunger and thirst.
"Remember, doing this for your brothers and sisters, you do it for me."

Temptation - Then and Now
The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want. If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.”
Jesus answered him, “Get behind me satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.”
The devil, knowing the weak human condition, shows us all the glory of this world in their many materialistic and tempting forms.
The devil says to us, "I will give you all of these things, and their glory, for it is mine to give to whomever I want.
These things, and all the pleasures of this world will be yours for the asking. Partake and enjoy, you are in control of your life, the choices you make are yours alone.
You need not worship and obey the laws of a God you cannot see, these are real, they will fill your life with the fullness of pleasure."
How many more times will we allow the forces of evil to lie and lure our weak human nature into vice and sin? We have all had our share of disappointment and humiliation caused by our foolish decisions and actions. Truth, or lies, the choice is ours to make.
“Get behind me satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.”

Matthew 9:35-38
Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”
In these verses, the Lord is calling each one of us, his Disciples, to live out our vocations as extensions of his love and goodness. We are all called to love, not to hate; to heal, not to pour salt on the wounds of others; to feed the hungry, food for the body and spiritually for the soul; to comfort the sick, suffering, and less fortunate among us, not to turn our backs on others and think only of our selfish desires. Yes, we are all called to be Disciples of the Lord. Christmas is a great opportunity for us to bring the love of Christ to others. We love and serve our Lord when we love and serve all the less fortunate children of God among us.

The Children Of God
Thank you Father - for revealing the mystery
Blessed are the eyes that see
The little ones and the meek
Blessed are they that hear
They live in peace not fear
Blessed are the children of God
Thank you Father - for revealing the mystery
Prophets and kings filled with desire
In their jealousy they do conspire
Seeking wisdom to know all things
The elite are denied of this blessing
Blessed are the children of God
Thank you Father - for revealing the mystery
Blessed are they that see
Blessed are the humble and meek
Blessed are they that hear
Blessed are the they without fear
Blessed to understand the mystery
Blessed are the children of God

Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36
There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; the waves of the sea shall roar; nations shall be in anguish;
The powers of heaven will be shaken; people will fear for expectation of the things which are coming on the world;
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory;
When these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.” "Be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Strive After Virtue
　
Let your hearts not be filled with dissipation
Weigh you down and fill your life with cares
Unless you spend time striving after virtues
This life will tie you down with all its snares
You have the strength to grow
You have the power to say no
You need to watch all the time
You need to pray and to climb
Virtues are dwelling within you
Bigger things are out there that await you
The choice has been given freely to choose
Escape all the madness go out find a place
Strive and allow your virtues to breakthrough
You have the strength to grow
You have many seeds to sow
You have mountains to climb
So keep praying all the time
Unlock the virtues within you
You have the strength, I know
Remember I have told you so
Out of love I gave them all to you

Master of Love
Mastermind - Master of time
Master of light shining above
Master of all created things
Master and the King of Kings
Master and the fullness of love
Master of the joy nature brings
Master of our hopes and dreams
Master of lasting joy and peace
Master of creation a masterpiece
Master transforming souls anew
Master of making all things new
Master of every heartbeat melody
Master lover of all for all of eternity

"Goodbye"
The smiles now gone, the laughter too
Your once in a lifetime has come to you
The love you shared shall forever remain
So too with your loss our grief and pain
When at last we say goodbye
Our tears of sadness subside
The cherished memories of you
Will comfort and get us through
Joined with the faithful departed
My heart is overjoyed for you
Now tasting the fullness of glory
In this never ending lifetime story
Your smile and laughter endless forever
As you pass once in a lifetime through
Fullness to love now more than ever
As grace and glory now shine upon you
In the presence of everlasting joy
With a sigh and tearful eyes
With love we say - "goodbye"
　
　

　

The Love of a Lifetime

Mom I love you so - goodbye
Three days and two goodbyes
Smiles and tears of past years
Broken hearts, blessed memories
Mom I love you so - googbye
The pain, and lifetime of love
A dear brother-in-law, a friend
Grieve the loss of a lifetime, Mom
Mom I love you so - goodbye
No greater love on earth than she
Always there, she always cares
Only one, a once in a lifetime love
Until we meet again, I love you Mom

The Time Is Ripe

Mark 13: 24-32

The time is ripe for the tribulation
No way to tell if it's day or night
The darkened sun without reflection
The moon disappearing from sight
All powers in heaven are shaken
Showering down the stars of light

With great power and glory all eyes shall see
The Son of Man in magnificence and majesty
Upon the brilliant white cloud descending down
King of Kings with the earth his glorious crown

Sending Angels to gather all the chosen
From the four winds of the earth and sky
In robes washed in the blood of the lamb
The great tribulation they have survived
The time is ripe for this and our generation
The time of our souls salvation has arrived

With great power and glory all eyes shall see
The Son of Man in magnificence and majesty
Upon a brilliant white cloud descending down
King of Kings with the earth his glorious crown

The time is ripe for the Father's ultimate hour
He alone knows the time and has the power
All things shall pass but His word that is true
With His love all things shall be created anew
Seeing our Savior at the Father's right hand
In brilliant splendor fulfilling the Father's plan

A Child of God
One thing that will never pass away
A blessing that every one of us share
Where wealth or fame are not in play
On this earth nothing will ever compare
Timeless, ageless, total completeness
The fullness of life today and hereafter
A gift given to all from the eternal I Am
A treasure filled with promise and love
Not to be buried or hidden but shared
What a peaceful loving world it would be
If we took the time and were able to see
That the differences we allow to divide us
Will never overshadow the force that binds us
An eternal link shared on this journey we trod
Forever united as "A Child of God"

He Is Looking At You

Tonight little Anthony lay sedated in a hospital bed
Seizures have taken their toll on this young boy
Guy’s wife battles a cancer trying to take over her body
Mom is fatigued by multiple ailments taken her down
Dad’s lung disease is stealing his wind one breath at a time
Countless millions around the world suffer in pain
The young and innocent fighting debilitating enemies
The old facing the realities that come with growing old
Men and women are at war so far away from loved ones
Family members and friends morn a loved ones loss
Sadness and pain touches us all each and every day
No person will ever be exempt from sadness or pain
Life deals its share of blows to the four corners of the earth
Oceans of tears will fall seemingly to bring us down
But inside of all our countless tears we shall not drown
When it seems there is nothing left for us to hold on to
Look to he who sees all and call upon his holy name
He is there to wipe away your tears and calm all your fears
Faith, hope, and trust in him because he is looking at you.

Mark 10
2
And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"
3
He answered them, "What did Moses command you?"
4
They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away."
5
But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
6
But from the beginning of creation, `God made them male and female.'
7
`For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
8
and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh.
9
What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."
10
And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.
11
And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her;
12
and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."


Marriage is sacred union between a man and a women consecrated by God. At the time the vows are taken by the couple, each one is filled with joy and high expectations of the life that they will share in this holy union. Unfortunately, expectations sometimes diminish quickly as real life circumstances present themselves. All marriages are battle tested in one form or another, anyone that is, or has been married can attest to that. Some enjoy the fruits of a happy healthy marriage; other marriages are sustained by the couple working together to resolve the issues that present themselves on a daily basis; still other marriages fail, some quickly, and others after many years, for one reason or another.
The words of this Gospel reading are a very difficult pill to swallow. Jesus tells us that in the union of marriage the two become one flesh, and the one who divorces their spouse and marries another commits adultery. The complications in today’s world cause many couples to divorce, some remarry, some do not. We have all been touched with this reality ourselves or in our own families.
Life is not easy, and marriage is only complicated more and more because of this fact. We should all take the time to pray for each other as we try our best to make it through life one day at a time. We need each others support and love, especially when we are faced with the realities of a difficult or broken marriage.
May God continue to bless all married couples; and all those that have suffered the effects of a broken marriage, that he will bless and comfort them with his peace and love.

A Mother’s Plea

Dear Children, As I look at you, my heart seizes with pain. Where are you going my children? Have you sunk so deeply into sin that you do not know how to stop yourselves? You justify yourselves with sin and live according to it. Kneel down beneath the Cross and look at my Son. He conquered sin and died so that you, my children, may live. Permit me to help you not to die but to live with my Son forever. Thank you!"

As I Look At You My Lord

As I look at you my Lord
On my knees beneath the cross
My heart seizes with such pain
My strength is at a loss
Ashamed at my offenses
For turning my back on you
Time to pay the consequences
Another soul in need of rescue

Where have I gone wrong - I feel so alone
To continue on this way - will only cause me pain
Falling once again - I know what I must do
I call upon your name - Jesus I trust in you

Show me on the way to go
Only you could love me so
Fill me with grace once again
In your mercy I can depend
Show me another way
Release me from this pain
I'm lost in a tail spin
Caught up within my sin

I know where I've gone wrong - but I am not alone
It's time to change my ways - tired of all the pain
The road to peace in view - I know what I must do
I call upon your name - Jesus I trust in you
As I look at you my Lord - on my knees beneath the cross
My salvation is in view - Jesus I Trust In You! Amen.

Turn Back To God America

I turned on the TV to watch the evening news
Listening to all the non-sense was giving me the blues
They say change is needed for the country to survive
Are they so foolish to think we believe all their jive
So I put on that right wing channel and to my delight
I saw everyday people calling for their country to unite

God loving people that love their country and families
Stars and stripes Americans are people such as these
They are called insane and crazy for holding tea parties
Man I love these people America's domestic MD's

Those now in power want to force change on you
Taxing us to death too push their agenda through
They say the best is yet to come if we all share equality
So their hands are in our pockets stealing our money
America - America God will shed his grace on thee
Take a stand let your voice be heard keep our country free

God loving people that love their country and families
Not ashamed to pray for guidance upon bended knees
Mom and Dad Americans are people such as these
Man I love these people they are the reason we are free

God so loved America that he shed his grace on thee
A nation forged in blood fighting for freedom and liberty
Not only here at home but for peace in foreign lands
God has blessed America the tools of his mighty hands
Change back to God America this is the change we need
Change back to God American or tyranny shall succeed

"In God We Trust" - Turn Back To God America!

The Greatest Gift Is Love

If you want to stand tall - noticed by all - number one
The best you could be - achieving victory - over everyone
At the top of your game - fortune and fame - the best
Diamonds and gold - a sight to behold - so blessed

If these things are important to you
If they're the road to your happiness
Then my friend you don't have a clue
If this is how you measure success

The greatest gift of all - is love
It's all every person dreams of
Of all the blessings from above
The greatest gift of all - is love

Standing tall is playing ball with a child
The best you can be is sharing a laugh and a smile
Your at the top of your game reaching out your hand
Whether here at home or in a foreign land

If these things are important to you
If they bring you happiness
Then my friend I have news for you
Your life is a total success

A heart that is filled with joy
Spreading peace and happiness
This treasure given from above
The greatest gift of all – Is Love

Mark 8: 27 - 35

27
And Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of Caesare'a Philip'pi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that I am?"
28
And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Eli'jah; and others one of the prophets."
29
And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ."
30
And he charged them to tell no one about him.
31
And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32
And he said this plainly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
33
But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men."
34
And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
35
For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.

“Who do men say that I am?” Peter answered him, “you are the Christ.”
Who is Jesus to each of us? As Christians we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Redeemer of mankind, and the Savior of the world. Many in the world today, as it was in the time of Jesus, do not believe as we do. Some still await their messiah; others regard Jesus as a prophet and holy man; and there are those today that deny him altogether and rebuke his teachings as nothing more than rubbish.
“Who do men say that I am?” Peter answered him, “you are the Christ.”
From the mouth of a simple fisherman comes forth faith and wisdom that can only be inspired by the Holy Spirit. Let us pray that we too may be given the grace necessary to boldly proclaim our belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus is asking us to go out into our own little world that we exist in and live out our daily lives as a reflection of him. In doing so we shall be his true disciples, and we shall lead many to believe that Jesus is indeed the “Christ” the Son of the living God.

Glad Tidings

Luke 4: 18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
Today’s Gospel reading speaks clearly to us in this passage. As disciples of our Lord, we have been given a mandate to proclaim the good news to those around us, especially the poor in spirit. People today, as in generations past, hunger for the truth as proclaimed in the Gospels. Filled with the Spirit of God, we must do our very best to feed those who hunger and are in need. If we who hear do not answer the call to evangelize, then who will? Be not afraid to answer; the Lord is calling.

Inside Out

“Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from the outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”
“From within people, from their hearts come; evil thoughts, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”
The human person is continuously absorbing, our lives would cease to exist if it were not so. From the moment a new born baby is placed in the arms of its loving mother and she whispers to the babe the first words the child will hear and then the child absorbs from the mother the energy of her love. As we progress from our infancy to adulthood we are on a non stop cycle of absorbing for our survival. We intake food and drink to nourish our bodies, wisdom and knowledge to progress as human beings, and so many other things that help us to evolve into the people we ultimately become.
The Lord tells us that it’s not what we take in that so much that will defile us, but how we digest it into our human person. If it is not good for us then we should not allow it into our lives in the first place. If our environment is corrupted then we must have the common sense to remove ourselves as best we can from it or we too shall become corrupt. Finally then, the point is, that it is up to each individual person to control themselves and conduct their lives according to what is just, and not let ourselves become corrupted and defiled by the things around us that we see, hear, and absorb into our lives on a daily basis. People around us will see us as we are, because what comes out of a person on a daily basis is more than likely the kind of person it is at heart. It’s not what enters a person that defiles; it is what is seen coming forth from that person that will define the character and life of that human being.

Final Destination

“Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
It’s not how you start the race that really matters; it’s how you run the race, making the right adjustments and decisions along the way. We must take the proper corrective measures along the way that may be needed so we can complete the race and reach the finish line. Today, it’s all about the ones that finish first; they receive all the awards and accolades. But the Lord tells us just the opposite, in his kingdom many that first will be last, and the last will be first. This is the only race that really matters in the eyes of God that we persevere to the end, overcoming many of the obstacles and hurdles we will encounter along the way. Then the Lord who has been there with us at each and ever stride, will be there at the finish line waiting to welcome us with open arms. Then he will award to each of us our eternal reward according to his will. It’s not how you start the race that really matters; but reaching your final destination.

Peace or Division

“Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”
The battle lines have been drawn. You are either on the side of the Lord, and do your best to follow his will, or you find yourself on the opposite side of the fence, opposing the will of God in your life. Unfortunately, in today’s day and age there is no in-between. The Lord tells us that if we choose to follow him then we must be prepared to do battle with the opposing forces; many of whom will be members of our own families. It is not easy to be a true follower of Christ, it can be down right painful and stressful. But the Lord tells us time and time again, “Be not afraid, I go before you always, come follow me, and I will give you rest.” Be not afraid to do battle for the sake of the Lord, the sacrifices will be great, but the rewards shall be everlasting!

Out of this World

How many times have we heard it said; too much of anything is not good for us? It is true, if we abuse one thing or another, eventually, it will have a way of controlling our mind set and way of life. Or how many times have we heard it said; there is no such thing as a sure thing? This is also true; nothing in this life is for certain, right?
In today’ Gospel reading taken from, John 6, Jesus speaks to the contrary of both of these statements. He tells us, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” These words are the essence of Christianity, not only does the Lord tell us that, yes, he did come down from heaven to save us, but that it is he, and only he, that is the life for the world. If we as Christians truly believed these words spoken by our Lord, we would be running to our Lord every chance we get to receive the living bread; his flesh that was ransomed for the salvation of the world.
No, too much of anything is not good for us, and nothing in this world is for certain. But he, who is not of this world, calls to us and says, “Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” Sure sounds to me, the more we make an effort to partake in this offering, the closer our relationship will be the Lord; he shall dwell within us, give us life, and raise us up on the last day. It is the only thing we can never get enough of, a guaranteed sure thing for the world that is, “out of this world.”

Pray! Pray! Pray!

Have we finally turned the page to the final chapter? The book of Revelation describes a time when events would unfold at an unprecedented scale. Once set in motion there would be no way to stop the occurrence of these events and the speed of which they would unfold. Has the clock started ticking yet, or is the book of Revelation just a book made up of symbolism and should be considered as a bunch of nonsense? Have the floodgates of hell busted open, with evil now spewing its doom upon mankind? Have we become so complacent that we no longer recognize the state of sinfulness and chaos that exists in the world today? Have we started down the road to the existence of a “New World Order” – a time when our entire life existence will be dictated and controlled by man made forces of unjust, unholy entities of World Governments? Excuse me; I said a terrible word, LIFE!!! When mankind takes a stand against its own existence by destroying life, then mankind itself shall cease to exist. Any person that would end the life of another innocent human being is a person that cannot be trusted. This is especially true of elected politicians that are put in office to defend the dignity of human life not to destroy it. Evil dwells in their hearts, as they have sided with the father of lies. The clock is surely ticking, and events have been set in motion to disrupt the peace of the earth; have no fear. Out on the horizon, awaiting those who remain faithful and true to Almighty God, is the great era of peace that has been promised to us. The Lamb has already been slain and we have been redeemed in his blood; children of God, not of the world. Pray! Pray! Pray! The peace of the earth is depending on prayers for God’s mercy. Only with prayer can God’s will for humanity be accomplished. To change the world, we must first, change our hearts. The revelation for true change has been revealed; in the blood of Christ our fates have been sealed. The time is now, the clock is ticking, and the evil one knows it. Pray! Pray! Pray!

Within Our Reach

Looking up to heaven, he said the blessing and gave the loaves to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
All things are within our reach. Look up to He who is willing to give us everything that is good. He shall pour out abundant blessings upon us and we in turn will be able to distribute these abundant blessings to those who hunger and thirst; then they shall then be satisfied. In turn then they will bless those with the gifts that they have received, and so on. Sounds easy to me, this is the change that we are all longing for and is within our reach.

Bread from Heaven

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” Again, Jesus says, “My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
The body has many needs, relying each day on the things of the world to give it nourishment, satisfaction, and fulfillment. Lasting only a short period of time, we find ourselves seeking out these same things over and over again. Although we need many things to sustain our human condition, none of these will ever bring us lasting fulfillment or joy. However, the human soul longs for something more permanent to give it lasting joy and satisfaction. This day, do you hunger and thirst for something, do you have a special desire or need? Are you looking for something that will bring you true and everlasting joy? Remember, the things of the world are passing away, their effects last but a fleeting moment. The answer for all of our needs is a heavenly one; Jesus, the Christ, Son of our loving eternal Father. The Giver of life gives to his children the bread of eternal life, his Son and our Lord, Jesus. It was He who came down from heaven to free us from our sinfulness, and it is He that will sustain us on our journey. Seek out the Lord, his love, peace, and joy, are everlasting!

Weed or Seed

Have you ever considered yourself as weed or as a seed? In the parable of the weeds in the field, Jesus uses this analogy to explain how it will be at the end of the age. Jesus explains the parable this way, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angles. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who causes others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of the Father.” Have you ever considered yourself to be a weed or a seed? Can a weed ever be transformed from something that chokes out and destroys life and growth, or has it been doomed from its beginning? I wonder.

The Harvest of God

Matt 13:24-30

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as everyone slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer's servants came and told him, 'Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weed! “‘An enemy has done it!' the farmer exclaimed.” 'Shall we pull out the weeds?' they asked. "He replied, 'No, you'll hurt the wheat if you do. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds and burn them and to put the wheat in the barn.' "

Lord Jesus, the Father has created everything in the world that is good, the earth is His footstool and we are his children. But the evil one, an enemy of God, has succeeded in corrupting the goodness of the Lord. We now exist together, the good, bad, evil, and just. You have promised, one day to call us back to you, all of your children. There you shall call the good and just to yourself to be with you in the everlasting joys of eternal paradise. Then you shall summon those that refused your love and allowed themselves to be manipulated and corrupted by the evil one. Then you shall condemn them and cast them all into eternal damnation forever and ever. We have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God, but you dear Jesus, redeemed us in your blood. It is there that we have been made clean and cleansed from our sinfulness. Bless us with the graces necessary to overcome the things around us trying to entangle and destroy the goodness that you have created. And one day we shall bear good fruit, growing ever so large in your love that we will overshadow and overcome all of the many forces that are attempting to steal the soul the Father has created. Make of us Lord a new creation and we shall renew the face of the earth. Amen

The Call of Mary

“Pray! Pray! Pray! – Dear children”
“Pray! Pray! Pray! – I am calling you”
“Pray! Pray! Pray! – Dear children”
“Pray! Pray! Pray! – I need you”

I need hearts ready for endless love
I need hearts free from any vanity
I need hearts ready to serve my Son
Remember how he sacrificed for thee

This is a time of prayer for you
A time of peace from above
At this time I am calling you
Adore my Son share His love

“Pray! Pray! Pray! – Dear children”
“Pray! Pray! Pray! – I am calling you”
“Pray! Pray! Pray! – Dear children”
“Pray! Pray! Pray! – I need you”

If you wish to join with me
Forgive and be free from all sin
Respond to my call to thee
Love my Son - adore Him

“Pray! Pray! Pray! – Dear children”
The peace of the Father is very near
“Pray! Pray! Pray! – Dear children”
This is a time of grace – a time for prayer
“Pray! Pray! Pray! – Dear children”
“Pray! Pray! Pray! - Pray! Pray! Pray!”

The Harvest

Jesus said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Look around today and see who can be called righteous? The times in which we live today are truly fascinating. Advances in technology, medicine, and just about every other field are amazing. However, with that being said, have we advanced as human beings? We could fill volumes describing how humanity has fallen short and is headed in the wrong direction. Our world today, more than ever is in need of a physician.
From the ego driven leaders of the world, down to the person on the street, we are all guilty.
The Lord says to us today: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Our true Physician is extending an opportunity to us to be healed. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. It’s time to get up, dust ourselves off, be reconciled with the Lord, and move forward in faith. It has never been clearer that the time is ripe for the harvest. The time is now for humanity to advance, not only in technology, but as the blessed children of God that we have been created for. Say yes, and the Physician of our eternal salvation will redirect our lives; then we will be ready to go out and make a difference in the world around us. True change starts from within. The Lord says, “There you will rest for yourselves.”

Conviction

Conviction, where have you gone?
It seems these days you are nowhere to be found.
As the wind blows, so too decision making goes,
Are you afraid of making waves that may swallow you up?
Have you become just a figure and speaker of words?
Conviction where have you gone?
Has meaning and purpose disappeared from your view?
Maybe, power and lust has become your thrust.
Have you lost your spine in the name of correctness?
Or become lukewarm in the heat of battle.
Conviction, where have you gone?
It seems these days you are nowhere to be found.
You’re just a puppet on a string with no control over anything.
You’ve become a lonesome voice spewing meaningless words.
They have no righteousness, no heart, and no soul.
Conviction, where have you gone?
It seems you have all but past away.
You are a fading memory of a better day that has now past.
Your steadfast faith, unshaken confidence, and deep rooted belief;
Has all been stolen away by a sinister worldly thief.
Conviction going, conviction going, conviction has gone.

“Arise”

When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of the commotion. So he went in and said to them, “why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, Talitha koum, which means, “little girl, I say to you arise!” The little girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.
This passage speaks to us, not only of our human mortality, but our spiritual mortality as well. Jesus takes the hand of this little girl and tells her to arise; immediately life entered back into her body. It took great faith for the girl’s parents to believe Jesus when he told them that the girl was only sleeping; knowing fully that life had past from her. Today Jesus says to us, “Child, arise!” Arise from the darkness of our sinfulness and into his light. Only with faith can we transform our spiritual mortality from certain death to new life. Faith is a grace, given to us freely from a loving, compassionate, and merciful God. We need only to seek it out from within ourselves and to exercise it. Jesus says to us today, “Child, arise!” Have faith; seek out the Kingdom of God and we shall be changed spiritually from darkness to a new life in Christ.

Persevering Faith

Mark 1:
In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a load cry came out of him.
All around us today, we are confronted on a daily bases with those who find it necessary to ridicule our Christian faith and way of life. Why? Because it poses such a threat to their way of life; they must condemn everything attached to Jesus, our Lord and Savior. The evil spirit knew fully, even before he questioned our Lord, that yes, the Christ had come to destroy sin and death. This was true then, over two thousand years ago and is true in our modern world today. It was the evils spirits who screamed before Pilate, crucify him! Crucify him! The same is true today, that is why the word of God is being taken out of our public schools and every other aspect of our lives. The forces of evil are screaming out one last time against everything that is righteous and holy. To be brief and put it simply, yes, Jesus did come to destroy and conquer sin and death. We must stand firm in our faith, pick up our cross daily and forge ahead. And when we are confronted and ridiculed for our faith, let us stand erect, and hold our head high; the rewards for our perseverance are awaiting us in heaven.

Fishers of Souls

Mark 1:
Jesus proclaimed: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
Passing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus said to Simon and his brother Andrew as they cast their nets into the sea; “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him.
Wow! It is not by chance that the Lord speaks these words to us today. The time is ripe, and the Lord is calling us to witness; to be the disciples of this age. He challenges us to put on the armor of faith, go out into this world in darkness, and to shine the light of Christ upon his sheep; lost, and searching to find their way. Each of us in our own environment needs to sow the seeds of faith to those around us. We must start by living out the Gospels in our every day lives. In doing so, we shall reap a bountiful harvest for the Lord. We may not be fishermen, but, we shall, by proclaiming him as Lord and Savior, become true fishers of men.
“This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

Rapping Freedom

America - check it out in Iran
A line being drawn in the sand
People yearning for freedom cry
Innocent bloodshed as people die
Stemming from a rigged election
Its people protest with objection
America - time to learn a lesson
From a people caught in oppression
Let us not take for granted being free
As bothers and sisters face tyranny
Where unjust Ayatollahs rule the land
The right to freedom has been banned
America - we must stand hand in hand
For a people caught up in quicksand
As evil rulers force their people down
Freedom's bloodshed as they crackdown
Time to take a good look at our liberty
Soul search the true meaning of being free
America - the time has come at last
As thousands of people are now amassed
Our brothers and sisters across the sea
Are now crying out for their liberty
America - we must voice their battle cry
Or this gasp for freedom will pass them by

Copyright by “Anthony” 2009

Mary In My Garden

Mother Mary just for you
In my garden I placed a rock or two
Set your image there for all to view
Beautifully clothed in white and blue
Now my garden is complete
With roses and flowers at your feet
And as the summer colors begin to bloom
With natures fragrance of sweet perfume
Filling the air in this garden of mine
Adorned with the beauty of Mother Mary’s Shrine

Image of Glory

Lord, you see inside of me
You always knew what I could be
Seeing through the foolish things I do
Knowing one day I would glorify you

Lord, now is the perfect time
There's no mountain I can't climb
Only you seeing me as you do
Reflecting the image of you

One day others shall surely see
All that you meant me to be
All that you always knew
This image would glorify you

Lord, give us our daily bread
It's how our souls are fed
That we may be real and true
Reflecting the image of you

One day others shall surely see
All that you meant me to be
All that you always knew
This image would glorify you

By trusting, hoping and loving too
One day my image shall glorify you

The Spirit of Bethlehem

All in one place together
The wind started to blow
Racing through the house
The Spirit did bestow
Flaming tongues of fire
Resting on each of them
Filled with the Spirit
Of the child from Bethlehem

They sang praises to the Father
And the glory of His Son
Proclaimed the Holy Spirit
Three Persons all in one
Flaming lounges of fire
Resting on each of them
Filled with the Spirit
Of the child from Bethlehem

Many now had gathered
Hearing the strange sound
Confused they were hearing
Words that would astound
Language that was spoken
Understood by each of them
Filled with the Spirit
Of the child from Bethlehem

They sang praises to the Father
And the glory of His Son
Proclaimed the Holy Spirit
Three Persons all in one
Flaming lounges of fire
Resting on each of them
Filled with the Spirit
Of the child from Bethlehem

Copyright by "Anthony"

The Bread of Life

Come to me if you thirst
You shall have your fill
Come to me if you hunger
To do so is my will
Come to me you tired ones
I will give you rest
You shall know I love you
Your spirit I shall bless

I am the bread of life - you shall have your fill
Trust and believe in me - to do so is my will
Come to me tired ones and I will give you rest
I shall satisfy your hunger; feed upon my flesh

Come to me - where living waters flow
Reside in my Spirit – within you I shall sow
Seeds that will lead you – to eternity
Come to me my child – come feed on me

I am the bread of life - you shall have your fill
Trust and believe in me - to do so is my will
Come to me tired ones and I will give you rest
I shall satisfy your hunger; feed upon my flesh

I am bread from heaven
You shall have your fill
Never shall you hunger
Trust and do my will
Come to me tired ones
I will give you rest
I am the bread of life - come and feed upon my flesh

Copyright by “Anthony”

I Believe

John 16: 31-33
Jesus asked, "Do you finally believe? But the time is coming, in fact, it is already here, you will be scattered, each one going your own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

We indeed have scattered and have gone are own way; conducting our lives on our own terms. Yes, we have left the Lord alone, all of us in our own way. But the Lord is not alone because he is one with the Father. As we encounter our earthly trials and sorrows, do not loose heart; Jesus is always with us and has overcome the world and all the falsehoods, trials and sorrows. Do you finally believe? I do believe!!!

Filled With Joy

John 16:20-21
Truly, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy when you see me again.
Jesus is not only referring to his passion, death, and resurrection, but for the things that are in store for all those who love him. Today, there is much to be concerned about; let us not loose hope. Jesus tells us that we will mourn over what is going to happen to him; so even today we mourn the disrespectful ways our Lord is treated; worry not. Although it may seem that things around us are quickly moving out of control, and many rejoice in the direction of events that are unfolding; fear not. Remember the words of our Lord; “You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy when you see me again.” Get ready to be filled with joy, Jesus is coming!

In Your Face or Without a Trace

I was in the Bank that day; I stood in line and watched the TV screen; my heart and soul fell to the floor. The smoke and flames billowed from the tower; out of nowhere comes the second blow. I stood there in awe watching these events unfold before my eyes. Then the horror of watching my fellow Americans lunging from the flaming towers. I said to myself, “this cannot be happening in my country,” but it was, and it did.
Tonight I came home from work and there it was right before my eyes once again. I could not believe what I was hearing and seeing. On one hand the case was being made against pouring water in the face of the terrorist who brought so much pain and destruction against our fellow Americans on that horrible day. On the other hand those who supported these tactics made their case. I am not a violent person; the torture of any human being is totally against my core beliefs. But the pouring of water into the face of a person that was responsible of the killing of so many innocent human beings and plotted to kill thousands more is a no brainier to me. The effect of implementing this deed saved thousands of innocent American lives. Then it hits me; how could a man profess to against the torture of human beings on the one hand and on the other hand side with the destruction of the most innocent among us; the unborn. The hypocrisy is truly unbelievable; the pouring of water into a destructors face, or to end an innocent human beings life without a trace. Evil is evil, politics is politics, but murder is murder. You either profess to be against harm and destruction or you are for it, there is no in between.
I went to the Bank that day, September 11th, to cash a check; I realized that day that in this world there is good and there is evil. I know that good exists, but on that day for the first time in my life I experienced the face of evil. Let us not be as the hypocrites, let us stand always for peace inside our world and inside the womb.

My Best Friend

I would like to take a moment to tell you about my best friend. He doesn’t always tell me what I want to hear, no, sometimes his message is down right disturbing; I must admit though, he has never been wrong. He’s always been very patient with me, even when I completely turned my back on him. It’s amazing, with all the mistakes I’ve made in my life he has never once abandoned me; and any time I need someone to talk to he’s always there to lend an ear. When I’m feeling down he picks me up; when I get lost he helps me find my way. Even the times when I felt so distant from him, or it seemed as though we had parted ways, he would seek me out and let me know how much he loves me; he has always been there for me. It’s taken me fifty years to realize how fortunate and blessed I am to have such a wonderful friend. It’s funny, there were times when I thought I had it all figured out and that I was in control; I know better now. Thanks to my best friend, I have made it this far and I know for certain how the story of my life will end.

Decision Time

John 16:5-11
"But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and none of you has asked me where I am going. Instead, you are very sad. But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Counselor won't come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world's sin is unbelief in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the prince of this world has already been judged.
The prince of this world has already been judged; he has been found guilty of deceit and condemned for eternity. So why is the world still so troubled and sinful? Jesus tells us that He would send the Holy Spirit; and the Spirit of truth would convince the world of its sin. He states further: “the world’s sin is unbelief in me.” The deceiver has been successful from the beginning, to the present age, of masterminding the biggest lie of all time; there is no God. The evil one tempted Jesus in the desert and so too he temps us today. We are offered all of the pleasures this world has to offer if we follow him and deny the existence of God and His beloved Son Jesus the Christ. Which spirit are we hearing and following? Now is the time to decide, will we put our faith in things of this world that are quickly passing away, or will we seek out the truth in all things? The Spirit of truth is found within each of us; ready to fill our hearts with God’s love and the mercy of His Son, Jesus; seek Him out.

The Role of Hypocrites

John 14: 23-29

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.“ In that day you will know that I am in My Father and you in Me, and I in you. “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.
“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.“ Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. “Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.
“I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me.
Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. This is where our Christian faith has its roots. Jesus promises to all those who keep the commandments of the Father; Jesus said, “I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” Is our heart set on the Lord?
Do we hear his voice within us and follow the laws of the Father? If so, then we have been filled with the Spirit of truth; we have nothing to fear; God dwells within us. He also sends a message to the world that lives in darkness and does not keep the commandments of God; the world cannot receive him, because it does not see Him or know Him.
This is a very important point that should be made to many that are in positions of power. They claim belief in God, but they do not follow his laws; they are hypocrites. They do not obey the laws because they are not filled with the Spirit of truth but the spirit of the ruler of this world that Jesus told us was coming. Case in point: Notre Dame University a Catholic institution; today Sunday, May 17, 2009.

One Stone at a Time

John: 15: 16-17
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.
Jesus makes it very clear, that he has called us to go out and live the message of the Gospel. Wherever we find ourselves at this time in our lives, we have been placed there for a reason. It is there we must accept the graces that the Lord wishes to bestow upon us and use them in a humble way to spread his peace and joy to all around us. In turn, those we help will someday follow suit and help another person, and so on. We are not called to move mountains, only to build the Kingdom of God here on earth. If we do that, then when our journey here is finished, we will have built up a mountain of glory that has been raised to heaven, one stone at a time.

Parable of the Talents

For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, “Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.” His master said to him, well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”
Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, “Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.”
His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”
And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, “Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.”
But his master answered and said to him, “you wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.” “Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.”
For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

There is no more poignant verse that hits home today than this one. The Lord has given us all many gifts and talents; he expects us to use them to bear much fruit. He does not want us to bury our heads in the sand and to waste what he has given us; he instead wants us to multiply them to produce more with the gifts he has given us. If we waste our gifts than they will be taken away, but if we use them to bear fruit than we shall prosper ten fold. Also, the Lord approves of his people working hard and being prosperous. Laziness and expecting something for nothing is sinful. But he does expect those who have been successful to lend a helping hand to those in need. As Jesus has said, “the poor you will always have with you.” It is up to us always to help those who are less fortunate. There is not only a reward waiting for those who follow will of God in the Kingdom; there is also a reward waiting for those who work hard and use the gifts that God has blessed us with in this world today. There is no shame in being successful; only shame in not being successful in furthering the Kingdom here on earth with the gifts we have been blessed with.

Witness

Today more than any other day, or any other point in time, we are called to witnesses of truth. The times in which we live are truly trying and very stressful. Many seek release from all the stress in many different ways. Unfortunately so many of us have become entrapped in a life of routine; the world offers us so many different ways to relieve our tension and stress. Our release may come in the form of music, a TV show, a night out at a ballgame, or dining out with family or friends. Whatever the case may be, let us never loose our focus on where true peace will be found. True and lasting peace will only be found in the presence of the Lord. He alone can fill us with the joy our souls long for. The world is quickly passing away, along with all the empty promises, temptations and attachments; all of which have seem to become the idols of our lives. Spending time with the Lord in prayer, meditation, or especially before the Blessed Sacrament, will feed a tired and weary soul. In doing so, we will be in tune with the will of God; fulfilling our calling to be his witnesses as we live out our daily lives. The time is now to become a true and faithful servant of our Lord. Let us be his light of peace and joy; satisfy those who have a need or desire, and set the world ablaze with his love and fire.

Peace of the Lamb

John 14: 27-31
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.”
He who is the way, the truth, and the life, our Lord, Jesus Christ, extends to us his true peace. Once again he tells us not to be afraid, and he promises us that he will return for us. He leads us by example; true love is a grace from the Father, if we do the will of the Father, then we, as Jesus, prove our love for Him. Jesus also tells us that the prince of this world would be coming, but that the evil one has no power over him. It is very obvious that he is truly the prince of all the darkness in the world today; that’s the bad news. However, the good news is; he has already been defeated and condemned to eternal damnation, along with all of his evil minions. We need only to continue to fight the good fight, one day at a time. The Lamb has already been slain, and his blood spread upon the beam of the cross. “It Is Finished!”

The Battle Lines

John: Chapter 16
“All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.
These words from our Lord are striking, especially it light of the conditions around the world today. Jesus is telling us that we will surely be persecuted for our belief in him. The word kill is a very strong word, but let’s be honest, there are people in the around the world who kill in the name of God; but then again we have people in our own families who persecute us for having a relationship with our Lord. One thing is for sure, our faith will be challenged around every corner; are you up for the fight? Get ready to put on the armor of faith; it is the only thing that will see us through.

Chapter 15: 1-8

The Vine and the Branches

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Jesus is telling us that he alone is our lifeline to the Father. If we choose to attach ourselves to him then we shall bear much fruit; If not we shall just wither away. Our spiritual nourishment is drawn out from he who sustains us; Jesus the Christ. May we always affix our hearts and minds on the Lord; he alone is will carry us through this life; he alone shall lead us to the Father, and our eternal salvation.

A Guaranteed Investment

Our Creator through his infinite wisdom created the heavens and the earth. After doing so, God looked at everything he had made, and was very pleased.
The Lord God took some soil from the ground and formed man out of it; he breathed life-giving breath into his nostrils and the man began to live. Then the Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the flesh. He formed a woman out of the rib and brought her to him. Then the man said, “at last, here is one of my own kind – bone taken from my bone, and flesh from my flesh. ‘Woman’ is her name because she was taken out of man.”
Those who profess to believe in God believe that he created us; and from that point in time to the present day many changes have taken place. Many for the well being of mankind, and many, I believe, that are contrary to what God had intended for his children.
It seems that we are at a crossroads point in time; many have totally removed God from their lives, still others that profess their belief in God have drifted off the road; going it alone and doing it their way on their own terms. That’s all well and good, but sooner or later we find ourselves at the end of the road, then what? Pleasure over sacrifice, materialism over charity, Egotism and the lust for power over reaching out to our fellow man, and the list goes on. I am a sinner, and do not profess to speak for God, but common sense tells us that this is not what the Father had intended for his children. I am not a gambling man, but there is one thing I know without a doubt in my mind, the world is full of empty promises and falsehoods, and I for one am not buying into the lies. My treasure is found in God, and in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, not in the things of this world. This is the one solid and sure investment that I have ever made; it’s a guaranteed winner.
Yes, this is an investment that will take you higher, to the top, and is guaranteed; not with monetary returns that the world offers; with heavenly returns that have been seal in blood, the blood of salvation.

A Higher Investment

John 14
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I was going to prepare a place for you? I will come back again and take you with myself, so that where I am you also may Be. I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.”
These words of our Lord speak for themselves; they are the words that our Christian faith relies on. Jesus gives us promises that all that believe in him and follow the will of his Father are guaranteed a place in the Kingdom of God. Believe not in the things of this world, but in He that created the world and all of its goodness. This is the greatest investment that one can possibly make, and it is sure to take one higher.

One Day at a Time

Not all are called to shout the word of God from the mountaintop, or to proclaim it from the pulpit. Every person though, has a specific calling to further the Kingdom of God in our world today. Most of us are just everyday people, living simple lifestyles.
No matter where we find ourselves in this place and time we can all have a positive impact on our family, friends, and those we come in contact with on a daily basis, by refusing to fall in step with the negativity that we are being inundated with each day. Our platform to do the will of God is by taking his message to the street, into the workplace, into our daily activities and so on. We need not push an agenda, force an opinion, or ram our beliefs down anyone’s throat, no; we need only to live out the truth of our convictions. We must be the light of Christ to a world in darkness that is drifting away from reality. Pleasure seeking, materialism, and the lust for power have become the god of today; unknown to those trapped in these vices that they are quickly passing away. All that will matter in the final analysis is if we fought the good fight and helped our fellowman along the way. Not from the mountaintop, but in the street, furthering the Kingdom of God one day at a time.

The Trinity

John 13: 19-20
“From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may
believe that I AM. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives
Me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
If we as Christians believe in Jesus Christ, then we also believe that the Holy Spirit
dwells within us. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit we have come to believe.
Strengthened in faith we shall continue to persevere in the midst of all our trials and
difficulties. The Father sent his beloved Son into the world to free us from our sinfulness;
and he promised to be with us always even until the end of the world. Now, let us
continue on our journey marked with the sign of faith; in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

The Two are One

John 12: 44-50
And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness .“If anyone hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. “He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. “For I did not speak on my own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent me has given me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. “I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told me.”
Jesus once again speaks to us in this Gospel reading about faith. He is telling us that if we believe in him then we also believe in the Father, because they are one. He also tells us that he did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. By rejecting the Lord and his words we will have to give account of this on the day of God’s judgment. Those who do not believe, and refuse to abide in the word of God will be liable for. The mercy of God knows no bounds; have faith, believe, and your salvation is guaranteed.

The Fight

Coming from a large family ten children I can honestly say, “We have been there, done that.” Life is not all peaches and cream, life can be down right hard and nasty. We all, at one time or another, find ourselves in a battle; a fight, and we try our best to make it right. We go fifteen rounds, giving it all we have to get through it to persevere. We are tired, overwhelmed, physically and mentally spent, and we think that all the pain is finally behind us, then, another storm comes. We are totally exhausted and worn out from one trial and another one is waiting for us at the door. How do we deal with circumstances in life that we have no control over? Faith, and trust in the Lord, is the only answer I can come up with; if you have another please let me know. There will always be new challenges to face, obstacles that we need to deal with, but we must never give up hope and loose our faith. Life is short, our problems can be very complex and troublesome; never loose hope. The Lord sees all things, feels our pain, and will see us through. God, at the time of our trial, will give us the strength to make it through; Keep the faith!

The Gate

We have all heard the expression at one time or another; "Both sides of the fence." In today's modern culture, you are either on one side of the fence, or the other. We as a people, and a culture, have become polarized; seemingly living in two completely different worlds. Our thought processes are geared totally in one direction, without room for compromise. Each of us knows fully on which side of the fence we find ourselves, and what our heart felt beliefs are.
Today's Gospel is taken from: John 10: 1-10; Jesus tells us that he is the gate for the sheep. Jesus says, "Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly." The gatekeeper opens the gate, the sheep hear his voice, as he calls their name and they follow him.
The Lord is calling to each of us; are we listening for his voice? Jesus died upon the cross for all of us, no matter what side of the fence we are on. The gate is opened to all, but the gate does not swing both ways. The gate points in one direction, toward heaven and eternity; back to our Father and Creator.
While the gate is open, and the Lord is calling; listen to his voice and enter into paradise.

David’s Song

Young David lay in a hospital bed - the disease had taken control
Could not speak just read his lips - the procedures had taken a toll

His mother there by his side - when I went to see David and say hello
To this day, I still can see his beautiful face, filled with a heavenly glow

With a gesture he called me near - his quiet lips said what he had to say
Mom and I witnessed this young man - with words that blew us both away

He said, "Jesus is here by my side," and my heart nearly fell to the floor
A glowing face, big brown sparkling white eyes, he said, "there is more"

"Jesus is here, and he is holding me near, and he loves me very, very, much!"
His mom looked on with tears in her eyes, held on with her motherly touch

I said, "I know he is here and he loves you dear," Seeing David filled with grace
Words could not explain what was taking place, it was written upon David's face

He said, "Jesus is here by my side," holding my hand with a gentle clutch
"Jesus is here, and he is holding me near, and he loves me very, very, much!"

"Jesus is here by my side," repeating those beautiful words again and again
"Jesus is here, and he is holding me near, and he loves me very, very, much!"
"Jesus is here, and he is holding me near, and he loves me very, very, much!"

The Christ

Listening to him some were troubled
Hearing words so very hard to accept
Words he spoke were Spirit and life
These are the words that were said

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood
Remains forever in me always
I shall dwell in him, forgive his sins
And raise him up at the end of his days

He knew some would never believe
Others would leave and even betray
Those that would always love him dear
And proclaim the Lord in this way

Master, to whom shall we go
You have the words - of eternal life
Oh Master, we have come to know
You are the Son of God - “The Christ"

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood
Remains forever in me always
I shall dwell in him, forgive his sins
And raise him up at the end of his days

Master, lead us where we must go
You have the words - of eternal life
Oh Master, we have come to know
You are the Son of God - “The Christ"

John 21: 1-14

Jesus Appears at the Sea of Galilee
After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” and He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on, and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.
So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

The disciples listened to a man from the beach some distance away. Upon casting their nets and catching an abundance of fish, they then realized that it was the Lord. Once again they were able to see the goodness of the Lord, and believed.
The Lord, once again says to us, “Blessed are they who have not seen and believe.” When we encounter difficulties in our everyday life; keep the faith. Jesus has provided to us in the Gospels; the path to salvation. Trust and believe in him and we shall one day dwell with him. Trust and believe; no man can conceive what God has prepared for those who love him. We may not be able to conceive his abundant love for us, but we certainly with faith, we can believe in his abundant love for us.

Be Not Afraid

John 6: 16-21
Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
Jesus says to us, “Be not afraid; I go before you always; come and follow me, and I will give you rest.” He knows where our lives are at this point in time, and he knows what shall become of our lives in the future. Today he is calling each one of us to follow him in a more loving and personal way; are we listening? He knows where we are going, and is waiting to receive us with open arms; Be not afraid!

Compassionate Jesus

The compassion of Jesus is perfectly clear in the Gospel of John 6: 1-15.
Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, Where can we by enough food for them to eat?” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they were finished, having had their fill, the disciples were able to fill twelve wicker baskets with the fragments left over.
Let there be no doubt that Jesus, loves and cares about our every need. If we place our trust in him, and follow in his footsteps then we have nothing to fear; he shall fulfill our every need no matter how large or small. Five thousand satisfied from a few loaves and fishes; how much more is he willing to share with those who love him as we journey along, following him on our earthly pilgrimage?

Ask Not

I’ve been reflecting much lately on the state of our Union. I see many similarities between our former President Kennedy and our current President Barack Obama, both young, well educated, well spoken, great motivators, etc.
President John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s inaugural address included these eloquent words: “Ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country.” I asked the words this way: “Ask not what your God will do for you-ask what you are willing to do for your God.”
Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Jesus wants us to approach him and to ask him to help us with all of our needs. But, Jesus already knows our needs before we ask him to help us with them. We need only to approach him with faith, hope, and trust; he loves us, he hears our prayers, and will answer them in a way that is best for us and our eternal salvation. God is willing to give us anything we need to sustain us; our very next breath is a gift from our loving God.
What are we willing to do for our God? Is this a one way road; or will we exercise our love for God by walking the walk and not just talking the talk? Are we willing to take a stand for Jesus and the truth as he has taught us in the Gospel’s; even in the midst of the darkness in our world today? I believe that we are at a crossroad in history; decisions we make today will not only have an effect on our lives but our children’s, and for generations to come. What are we willing to do for our God??? The answer may be one of the last moves we play out, but without a doubt will have an effect on life as we know it now, and future generations will share in the years to come.

Ask Not

Ask not what God will do for you; Ask what you are willing to do for your God!!!!

Jn 20: 19-31

Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

This is just a piece of today’s Gospel reading. But it is without a doubt, one of the greatest mysteries of our Catholic faith; the forgiveness of sin.
Many say that only God can forgive sin, no man can forgive another person’s sin. Being married to a Protestant, I have come to understand through the years the opinion of those who do not believe that a man can forgive another person’s sins. But, it is this verse that has made my faith in God’s mercy ever stronger. Jesus said to his disciples, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” To me, there can be no other explanation of what the Lord intended for his disciples to carry on in his absence. Jesus allowed the ones who were closest to him in this world to carry on in his absence.
A Priest has been given the grace by God to be his vessel of infinite love to those who seek his mercy. A man is only a man, but through God’s grace, those consecrated to him have been blessed with the ability to carry on his mercy, extending his hands to all those who seek him. “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained,” Sounds like a plan to me; the plan of the extension of his infinite mercy.

Proclaim the Gospel / Mk 16: 9-15

When Jesus had risen, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either.
Later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, “Go into the world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

As the first week of the Easter season comes to a close, do we find ourselves as the Eleven Apostles, in disbelief? We as Christians proclaim our belief in the resurrection of Christ, but do we really believe? Will we doubt no longer only if we see him face to face, or if we place our hands upon the wounds of salvation? Jesus said, “Blessed are they who have not seen and believe.” Can we say without a doubt that we are among the Blessed that our Lord spoke about? If so, then no sign is needed, no further explanation is necessary, for we have been filled with the grace redemption; The Spirit of Christ resides within our hearts. We need only to live out the directive given to us by our Savior: “Go out into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” Praise God!

The Passion

Alone in the garden to his Father he prayed
His disciples, under the trees, asleep they laid
My Father in heaven, please take this cup away
No, Father, let it be done to me as you say
The soldiers approach, his disciples in fear
Peter draws his sword and severs one's ear
Put your sword back into its scabbard
Shall I not drink the cup of my Father and Lord
Jesus surrenders himself without a fight
He is taken away in the dark of the night
As the cock crows Peter begins to cry
Told by Jesus three times he would deny
In a courtyard filled with a angry crowd
They reviled and cursed at him out load
A fearful Pilate is seated upon his throne
Abandoned, Jesus stands there all alone
Convicted and accused of blasphemy
Overwhelmed and fearful Pilate gives a decree
Our Lord knew fully his time was very near
Pilate washes his hands of the whole affair
A vicious murderer is spared and set free
The carpenters make a cross from a tree
His flesh, viciously ripped from his bones
In shock, enduring immense pain, he moans
Trusted upon his head, a thorn woven crown
His precious blood dripping to the ground
Lifting up his cross, with our sins how it weighed
With each and every step, to his Father he prayed
Falling three times and overwhelmed with pain
My Father in heaven please let this not be in vain
Thrown upon the cross he gazed up to heaven
He felt so alone with this cross he was given
Lifted up nailed to the cross, his eyes looked down
For his garments the lots rolled across the ground
His mother's heart broken, streaming tears in her eyes
The thick dark clouds gather above in the skies
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do
Then he bowed his head, and his mission was through
Streaks of lightning, thunder, pouring rain from the sky
There was no longer any doubt, for our sins he had died
God the Father of mercy, extending his love to everyone
Giving of Himself; in the passion and death of His Son.

God's Servant,
Anthony

PRAYER at the CONSECRATION:

Elevation of the Host:

My Lord and my God, my God and my all,
I love you in the most Blessed Sacrament,
Nailed upon the cross, suffered and died for the sake of all humanity,
That sin may be forgiven and the gates of heaven may be opened.

Elevation of the Chalice:

My Lord and my God, my God and my all,
I love you in the most Precious Blood,
Shed upon the cross at Calvary,
Cleanse us dear Lord, with this adorable sacrifice, and bring us to new life,
In your name we pray, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Be Not Afraid

If you are a Christian, someone that believes that Jesus is the Son of God; beware. Expect, to be ridiculed and slandered, for you faith. Christianity has now come full circle; just as in the early church, when Christians were persecuted for their faith, so too are we being persecuted in these times that we live today. Our Lord told us that if we wanted to follow him, then we would have to take up our cross and walk with him everyday. Our crosses come to us in many different ways; only you know what your cross may be.
Be assured, that although we may carry our cross; the Lord supports it. While we are put to the test, day after day, we need to keep the faith. Those who do not, believe, hope, or trust in God, will never understand you. They may say your crazy, or you have lost control of your senses. No, you are doing exactly what the Lord expects of you; leading others to the faith by your example. Continue on, do not be afraid; words are only exterior; faith is interior. Pick up your cross and walk with the Lord; in doing so you give glory to God.

Straight to The Cross

As we enter into Holy Week, we as Catholics must put on the armor of faith and be ready to accompany our Lord on the road to Calvary. With each passing day the Catholic Church has become the main focus of those who are antichrist. We are on the chopping block, and the attacks are coming from all directions. The evil one seems to be giving it one last try to destroy the one true church; Jesus said to Peter, “Upon this rock, I shall build my church.” So, now, we must defend our faith as never before, and we will. We shall continue to fight the good fight, armed with the faith of the cross and the Holy Rosary in our hands. Jesus said, “Be not afraid, I go be for you always.” And he did, straight to the cross; now it’s our turn!

Palms of Praise

Into the village Jesus sends two
A prophet's word has come to pass
He, an instrument that was spoken through
“Behold, your meek King, riding upon an ass,
On a colt, the foal of a beast of burden”
“Hosanna to the Son of David,” the people cry
Spreading garments and branches as he passes by
Entering Jerusalem, many ask, “Who is this man we see?”
“This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee”
The multitudes of the city were stirred and shaken
In the presence of divinity, soon to be forsaken
One day, a great multitude shall sing psalms
Before the throne of the “King of Kings” holding palms
Arrayed in white robes, every tribe, tongue, and nation
Joyfully praising the “Lamb of God,” for their Salvation!

Salvation

Countless words have been spoken; as in the sands of the seashore. Infinite words have been written; vast as the stars of the universe. The earth is filled with an endless number of books and publications; some written by the greatest intellectual minds that have ever lived upon the face of the earth, others written by the most simple and humble that have graced humanity. With this thought in mind however, there are but three words that will stand the test of time. Three words, that at the moment they were uttered, changed mankind for ever. Never again will these three words need to be spoken. They have brought to completion that which is the greatest mystery of mankind; the mercy of our Creator and our eternal salvation. So great were these words, that they could only be proclaimed by the One; the son of God our Lord and Savior, “Jesus” the Christ. Humanity has been redeemed; sin and death have been conquered for all of eternity; the power of the evil one destroyed; the gates of heaven opened as wide as his arms were outstretched and he uttered these words, “It Is Finished.” Amen!

Do You Believe, I Do

Do you believe in the Father and the Son
Do you believe he shed his blood for everyone
Do you believe that he coming back for you
I do believe, I do

Do you believe in forgiveness for our sin
Do you believe we were saved at baptism
Do you believe the Holy Spirit dwells in you
I do believe, I do

For all, his blood was shed upon the cross
For all, that not one soul would be lost
For all, one day shall see him face to face
For all who believe; this is grace

I do believe in the Father and the Son
I do believe he shed his blood for everyone
I do believe he coming back, I do
I do believe, do you

I do believe in the forgiveness for our sin
I do believe in the salvation of baptism
I do believe in the Holy Spirit, I do
I do believe, do you

For all, his blood was shed upon the cross
For all, that not one soul would be lost
For all, one day shall see him face to face
For all with faith, he will shed his grace
Do you believe, I do, Jesus I love You!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life. Jn 8:12
This passage of Scripture is truly inspiring; the Christ, our Lord Jesus, invites us to follow him through the darkest points of our lives. He tells us not to look for satisfaction or put faith and hope in things that may seem on the exterior to be glamorous and fulfilling, but instead to seek out truth in all things. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light of our lives; whoever believes in him, though that person may be in darkness, shall see salvation guided by the light of Christ.

One does not exist alone by food and drink, our existence is defined by our goodness, gentle words that we share, inner thoughts that we think. They are the seeds of wisdom that will define who we are today and shall become in the future.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. In green pastures he gives me rest; he leads me beside the waters of peace.
Poetry of peace and comfort; food for the soul; energy for the day, God Bless!

A new Heavens and a new Earth

In the midst of all the confusion and turmoil in our country and world today, the Prophet Isaiah gives us a ray of hope. Is 65:17-21
Thus says the Lord: Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create. For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight; I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people. No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there, or the sound of crying; No longer shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not round out his full lifetime; he dies a mere youth who reaches but a hundred years, and he who fails of a hundred shall be thought accursed. They shall live in the houses they build, and eat the fruit of the vineyards they plant.
With such words of hope in a small glimpse of what God has in store for those who love Him; should worry about anything? Also, a very poignant statement from our Lord, “They shall live in the houses they build, and eat the fruit of the vineyards they plant.” When I read these words, the Lord is making it perfectly clear that the work of our hands is a grace, and we should work to enjoy and appreciate the works of our labor.

Eternal Life or Damnation

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned.
I find this passage from John Chapter 3 to be very comforting. We are all sinners, but we have been given the assurance that if we trust in God’s mercy and believe in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, then we shall see salvation, praise God! I also find this passage very troubling because of all the people in the world who are not Christian. For many good, loving, and decent human beings from other faiths this is not good news. How will they be saved if they do not profess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? My personal opinion is: Jesus will come to each one of us at the moment of our death and he will allow us the grace to believe in him, or reject him as the Christ. What do you believe?